Career and wellbeing workshops for individual researchers

  • “The insights I gained from Clare’s workshop on academic wellbeing have been some of the most valuable experiences for my professional development to date.”

    - Dr Nick Evans, Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Cambridge

Online workshops for academics

I offer small-group, online workshops to help you develop the skills you need for a career in research… or outside it.

In my workshops, you’ll benefit from my unique background:

  • I was formerly a researcher, so I understand academia from the inside.

  • I lectured alongside researching, so I have a lot of experience teaching and training adults. I love combining the joy I get from teaching with my weapons-grade enthusiasm for research.

  • These days I’m a research communicator, so I am really good at supporting people to grasp new concepts and make practical use of them.

Workshop themes

  • Research communication, engagement and impact
    If you want your research to have a real-world impact, you'll need to be able to get the attention of people who don't already care about it. This isn't something researchers typically get taught how to do - which is exactly why I offer these workshops. You’ll leave with practical skills you can use right away and more confidence in communicating with all kinds of audiences.

  • Taking care of ourselves and each other
    Academia has a tendency to treat research as more important than researchers, and I simply can’t be having with that. Whether you want to feel less alone dealing with the horrors that a career in research can throw at you, to learn a coping technique that isn’t meditation, or simply time with other people who get it, I’ve got your back.

  • Career skills for academia and beyond
    An academic wears many hats (including the nice squashy one you get when you graduate your PhD). In any given day you might be a project manager, data analyst, teacher, mentor, public speaker, job applicant, grant writer, colleague, friend, parent, partner, and more. That’s a lot for anyone to contend with, so let’s help you develop the skills that will help you succeed as a researcher (or help you find the escape hatch into another career - the choice is yours).

What to expect in my workshops

I lead with care, sincerity, and gentle humour. You’ll leave with evidence-based tools to help you cope with life in academia and beyond.

Expect ridiculous analogies and silly jokes, as well as lots of interactive elements that are purposely designed to allow you to engage in different ways. You’ll get to choose your own adventure depending on your needs and preferences. Whether you’d like to discuss with other attendees, spend time doing reflective writing or drawing, or even sit in silence and listen, you’re welcome as you are.

  • “Clare brings a wealth of experience to her workshops and sessions but what comes through the most is that she cares about people.”

    - Dr Graham McClelland, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow, Northumbria University

Currently available workshops

  • Research Comms 101

    2 hour online workshop

    Who's it for?
    Early career researchers and anyone working in research who’s new to research communication.
    The workshop is purposely designed to be accessible and relevant for researchers working in any discipline.

    Content:
    What is research communication and what can it help researchers achieve?
    Basic principles of research communication
    A practical process to get started with research communication.

    What you'll get out of it:
    A deeper understanding of what research communication is and its many, many uses
    Insights into different types of research communication, their benefits and drawbacks
    Practical skills to get started with research communication

    Learn more and book

  • More workshops coming soon


    It’s not you, it’s academia
    Identifying systemic and personal stressors in academia
    Understanding why we react differently to the same stressors
    Community and mutual support
    Communicating support needs

    Coping with academic stressors
    Taking care of your physical and mental health
    Coping strategies that aren’t (just) mindfulness
    Making a self-care ‘menu’

    And more…

    Get in touch if you want to know more

  • "I attended Clare's workshop on coping with academic stressors while working as a researcher on a fixed-term contract within a big university. The demands and expectations of my role and sourcing future research funding weighed heavily on me, so learning about Clare's well-thought out coping strategies and her active encouragement to think outside the box was so helpful to my personal development and my wellbeing."

    - Dr Emma Ferguson-Coleman, Lecturer in Dementia and Ageing, GIAM, University of West London

Looking for a tailored skills development workshop for your team or organisation?

What you get when you work with me

I'm Dr Clare Jonas: skills trainer, research communicator, and former academic.

When you work with me, you get:

  • My 10 years' experience of working in research communication and 20 years' experience of teaching, training, coaching and mentoring adults

  • My extensive education in psychology and neuroscience

  • My first-hand knowledge of working in academia (and burning out of academia) as someone with ADHD

  • My ability to assess research evidence and distil it into tangible ideas that you can use in your everyday life

  • My genuine delight in learning who you are and empowering you to develop skills to support your career and personal wellbeing

  • My deep personal commitment to kindness, honesty and integrity

  • And a lot of dad jokes, because my sense of humour is an important part of who I am (and gentle humour can be make it easier to learn new things and to regulate emotions when you’re talking about potentially challenging topics like wellbeing)

If you want to know more about me and my approach, check out my About Me page.